Day: May 23, 2014

Three-Parent in virto fertilization (IVF) is two women and one man contributing DNA to the creation of a human fetus with a reduced risk of developing mitochondrial diseases. The United Kingdom opened a three-month public consultation, which closed on the 22nd of May, on draft legislation that would legalize an IVF method that involves transferring the nucleus of an egg from one woman who carries the disease to the egg of another woman with healthy mitochondria.

Human Genetics Alert, a UK campaign watchdog, is against the legalization of mitochondrial replacement. A main concern is the deliberate changes it introduces to the germline of children born using this method. They also see it as opening the door to “enhanced designer babies.” {the germline in humans is the line (sequence) of germ cells that have genetic material that may be passed to a child. Germ cells are specialized cells which are involved in reproduction, such as sperm and eggs.}